cauliflower rice

Cauliflower rice recipe made with scallions, butter garlic and a little rosemary. A simple low-carb side dish with only 54 calories per serving to pair with so many different flavors. It is grain free and vegetarian friendly.

Years ago, when we were unbearably sleep deprived and in the thick of having a newborn, Jase and I, for a brief time used this silly tacky contraption for our daughters crib that played light and music and allowed us to catch 3 and a half minutes of sleep while our daughter was dazzled by it in all its seahorse and bubble glory. We called it the Fisher Price Mom. Is there such a thing as that for puppies? Or like Baby Einstein or an exersaucer for puppies? Something? Anything! I need that.

I am deep in the weeds of having a new puppy, and it is a miracle that anything of value is happening around here on the blog. My prose are not exactly flowing and all my energy is going to Bissell-ing up messes, trying to take puppy for a walk (but she just runs her collar and leash into the snow bank in an attempt to free herself of it) and generally avoiding puncture wounds.

Oh, did I tell you we decided on a name finally. Judy T. Which is short for Judith Tahini. We chose Judy because we thought it was funny to name her a non pet name, one that was way more human than yellow lab. And Tahini since that’s what color she is.

She was super duper mellow the first many days we brought her home. Turns out though that she actually had a little tummy bug called Coccidia, and she actually felt crappy. So we gave her some meds and now she feeling frisky as all get out. Which is a nice way of saying she is a little freakin’ terror. My little one came up with the nickname “Wound Hound!” for her. Thank goodness she is so adorbs. Though now she is so wild I can’t get any pictures of her except of those the inside of her sharp-as-heck-teeth-filled-mouth-as-she-attempts-to-eat-my-phone.

Because I am lacking in brain power to devote to a seamless segue from puppy rearing into this cauliflower recipe, I am just going to clunkily thunk a photo of it down between paragraphs.

Sorry dudes, I know I am capable of better than that. I hope the above cute photos make up for that.

When I was putting together this round-up of 15 healthy cauliflower recipes last winter I came across the idea of cauliflower rice here and there, and for some reason, I didn’t try it. Maybe I thought it was too involved, or that it would be too cauliflowery (is that a word?) or maybe I just have way too many things that I am always wanting to try and I am constantly running out of runway every single day.

But then last week I saw this simple cauliflower rice recipe on Enjoy Every Bite and it just looked so easy and simple. And like it would go with just about anything. And the real reason I finally decided to make it is that I happened to have a head of cauliflower in the fridge right at that moment. So I made it, and I was like, damn, why did I wait so long to try this? It was great!

So I figured I better share a version of it with you here, and let you know that you shouldn’t wait 14 months before you try it. Here’s how I made it: I started with an itty bit of butter, for flavor, and evoo too. Then I used chopped scallion whites and garlic too. Like the version on Elizabeth’s website, I added chopped celery because I liked the classic mirepoix flavor it would add. And some rosemary for a savory touch. But really you can add whatever you want to this. It is totally neutral in flavor, and really a blank canvas for whatever you want to pair with it or add to it. I think it would be wonderful with this Tofu Marsala or this Skillet Chicken and Cheddar Chive Sauce. Feel free to mix up the seasonings in the “rice” itself. I think adding sun dried tomatoes and pesto to it would be great too.

Just a quick note about how to achieve the best rice texture: To cut the cauliflower up before sautéing it, I cored the head, and cut it into chunks. Then I pulsed it in the food processor in three batches. A few pieces stayed large, so I pulled them out, dumped the granulated “rice” into a bowl and reprocessed the large chunks. [box type=”blank” class=”bg-blue rounded-10″] BACK TO BASICS

This cauliflower rice recipe has only about a third of the calories of the same volume of white rice. Consider swapping out lower calorie sides that fill up your plate and belly with fiber and volume. [/box]Questions

cauliflower rice

Description

Cauliflower rice is a plain and simple low carb vegetable side dish and rice alternative. It’s ready in 20 minutes or less and is also gluten free and wheat free!

Scale

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower, core and leaves removed, cut into big chunks

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons unsalted butter

4 scallions, sliced white and green parts divided

1 clove garlic minced

½ cup finely chopped celery

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground pepper, preferably white pepper

¾ cup reduced sodium chicken or Imagine no-chicken broth

Instructions

Place about 1/3 of the cauliflower in a food process fitted with steel blade attachment. Process until the cauliflower looks like tiny crumbs, 20 to 40 seconds. Transfer the processed cauliflower to a bowl, and repeat with the remaining cauliflower in two more batches.

Heat oil and butter in a 9-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallion whites, garlic, celery and rosemary and cook, stirring often until the scallion whites are starting to soften and become translucent, and the garlic is just starting to brown, 1 ½ to 3 minutes.

Gradually stir in cauliflower, salt and pepper coating with the scallion mixture. Cook, stirring often until you start to notice browned cauliflower when you stir along the edges of the skillet, 3 to 4 minutes. Add broth, stir to combine and increase heat to high. Cook stirring often until the cauliflower is cooked but not mushy, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in scallion greens. Remove from the heat and serve.

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My free ebook, The Best Weeknight Dinners, includes 15 of my family’s favorites — recipes and meals we go back to over and over again. It includes simple entrees you can make start to finish in 20 to 40 minutes. And all are made with simple to follow instructions and easy to find ingredients.

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This looks awesome! I’ve tried cauliflower rice before, in Fried Rice, and it is excellent! Tossed in a skillet with a little soy sauce and spices, and some mixed veggies and egg. Even my husband really enjoyed it. I’ve never had it as a simple side like this, though, and I love your suggestions for flavor.

Your new puppy is absolutely adorable. Just what I needed to get me through this friday!

Looking at Judy T’s photos was an awesome way to start my Saturday morning, Katie! We’re huge dog lovers and we’re getting another puppy in a couple of months. I’m readying myself for the hysteria of having a new puppy and two adult dogs! It’s so worth it though. We eat cauliflower almost every week and I’ve never made it in the rice form. Definitely trying this recipe this week!

I just tried making Cauliflower Rice for my family earlier this week and it was a huge hit! I used a slightly different flavor profile that went with herbed lamb skewers. I’ll have to give your recipe a try sometime. I think it would be great with roasted chicken, or carrots, or green beans. Yum!

I love the name “Judy Tahini”!!!! She is super cute! My daughter named our pup “Oliver” – just so he had a “human” name too! And we used to freeze toys and give them too him – seemed to alleviate his biting-everything-in-sight issues! Btw, I’ve yet to make cauli-rice so this recipe is much appreciated! Thank You!!!

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Katie and this is my Vermont kitchen. I’m a classically trained chef, former food stylist and also a reformed dieter.